“Angolan President João Lourenço, as facilitator of the Luanda process, spoke on recent developments around the M23 issue between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. His concern about the lack of consensus between the two parties reveals a difficult impasse to overcome.
In a statement issued by the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, João Lourenço stressed the importance for the DRC and Rwanda to find common ground for the good of their peoples. Despite the efforts made during the tripartite meeting cancelled on Sunday, December 15, differences persist regarding the request for direct talks between Kinshasa and the M23, demanded by Rwanda but rejected by the DRC.
The objective of the meeting was to review the progress made since March 2024 in the framework of the negotiations between the foreign ministers of the three countries. The draft peace agreement presented in August 2024 by João Lourenço was also to be discussed, but persistent disagreements on the M23 issue have hampered the consolidation of this agreement.
The Angolan President expressed concern about the lack of consensus on this crucial point, regretting the postponement of the tripartite requested at the last minute by Rwanda. Despite these complications, significant progress has been made on key aspects such as the ceasefire, the neutralization of the FDLR and the operationalization of the ad hoc verification mechanism.
It is clear that resolving the M23 crisis remains a major challenge for the region, but João Lourenço continues to call for dialogue and cooperation between the parties to achieve a peaceful and lasting solution. The situation requires strong political will and a real commitment to peace and regional stability.”